WHAT IS our world coming to? I received an e-mail a while back and filed it for future use. I came across it the other day and decided it had merit and that I needed to add it to my Morning Glory topics. It was referred to as a satire and was sent from one pastor to another. It has humor but it is oh so true, and isn’t far off from actually becoming a matter of fact! It begins with the Pastor greeting his congregation: "Praise the Lord!" The congregation greets the pastor with; "Hallelujah!"
THEN THE MORNING BEGINS: Pastor: "Will everyone please turn on your tablet, PC, iPad, smart phone, and Kindle Bibles to 1 Corinthians 13:13. And please switch on your Bluetooth to download the sermon.." (A short pause!) "Now, Let us pray committing this week into God’s hands. Open your Apps, BBM, Twitter and Facebook, and chat with God!" (S-i-l-e-n-c-e) . THE PASTOR continues; "As we take our Sunday tithes and offerings, please have your credit and debit cards ready." "You can log on to the church Wi-Fi using the password ‘Lord909887.’
A. "THOSE who prefer to make electronic fund transfers are directed to computers and laptops at the rear of the church.
B. THOSE who prefer to use iPads can open them.
C. THOSE who prefer telephone banking, take out your cell phones to transfer your contributions to the church account."
THE HOLY atmosphere of the Church becomes truly electrified as ALL the smart phones, iPads, PCS and laptops beep and flicker! The Pastor continues with the; "Final blessing and closing announcements......."
A. THIS week’s ministry cell meetings will be held on the various Facebook group pages where the usual group chatting takes place. Please log in and don’t miss out.
B. THURSDAY’s Bible study will be held live on Skype at 1900 hrs GMT. Please don’t miss out!
C. YOU CAN follow your Pastor on Twitter this weekend for counseling and prayers.
D. GOD BLESS you and have a nice day!
THE ONLY question I have regarding the possibility of all of this is; "WHAT ABOUT ME!" I don’t have all that stuff and if I did, I am not sure I would know how to do all of that, and be able to walk close with the Lord. I need to be refueled and reset! I want that time to remember the Lord right along side all of His followers. I have needs, that electronics could never fill! Not even if they were done by robots or automated!
I LOVE IT when we come together and sing songs giving Him all our praise and worship. I love it when we honor Him by focusing our attention upon Him and giving Him our words of love. I love it when we can bring our sacrifice of praise into His house! The highlight for me is when we come together around His table and remember how much He loves me! WOW! My heart is filled up with His love for me and His people. Makes me feel good and gives me the power to continue keeping on!
"THIS IS THE DAY that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Psalms 118:24 Let’s forget about our toys and come into His house to worship Him and to magnify His name. Nothing is more glorious than to be in God’s house with God’s people giving Him all the praise and the glory that is due Him! Amen! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 6/19/14
(Pastors Raymond Scott and Phil Roland)
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Sunday, June 15, 2014
A FATHER TO REMEMBER! 6/15/14
IS THERE A difference between being a Father or a Dad? Is it a matter of the name or is it in what happens between a man and his child? When I refer to my Dad as my Father, I am saying that he is my birth Father; I am in his ima; I have his genes! When I refer to my Father as my Dad, he is the one who raised me! I look towards several of my brothers as father figures, because they were always there for me and took care of me! God was the Father of Jesus but Joseph raised Jesus. As his "legal" Father, he was his Dad. I have never really considered the difference between father and Dad but according to the dictionary a Father is a male parent; A dad is the 15th letter of the Arabic alphabet. Hummm
LET’S LOOK at some biblical fathers and see if our fathers can relate to any one of them. Enoch was a Father; and he was also the Dad and taught his children about God! Noah was a Father, and he was also a Dad and encouraged his sons to help build the Ark! Abraham was a Father, and he played with his children and they loved him as a Dad! King David was a Father, but had trouble with his children - kings are sometimes aloof. Hard to be a Dad when you are aloof, he shed many a tear over his children! Joseph was a legal Father. Jesus was his step-son! And he was a Dad! He allowed Jesus in his shop and taught him to be a carpenter. He taught Him in the ways of God. Jesus knew the scriptures because He was taught my Joseph. God is the epitome of Fatherhood! His relationship with Jesus was so full that Jesus could do nothing else, but live for Him.
WE ARE GOD’S adopted children; we are brothers and sisters of Jesus through adoption! This makes God our Dad? He loves us as His own! He cares for us and hurts, when we hurt. He says; "Come unto me!" Jesus says; I am your friend - No matter how we want to look at it, Jesus is our Savior and friend, and God is our heavenly Father
a. Psalms 68:5 "A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation." God has chosen to love us, as His children!
b. Psalms 103:13 "Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him!" We should love, honor and obey our earthly fathers; God we should fear with love, honor and obedience!
c. Proverbs 10:1 "A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother." Knowing the difference between a wise and foolish son is good!
d. Proverbs 17:21 "He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow. And the father of a fool has no joy!" A disobedient child, is a worldly child - pray for them!
e. Isaiah 64:8 "But now, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, and you our potter; and all of us are the work of your hand." Mankind was created by God, therefore we must submit to Him, so He can finish His work, in us!
f. Matthew 7:21 "Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven." God knows our hearts, therefore we cannot fool Him; because He is no fool!
g. Matthew 10:37 "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Loving, honoring and obeying our parents is the will of the Father. Doing this is God’s will; this shows we love the Father more, when we are in His will.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to all you Fathers who have allow God to change you into the kind of Dad that is needed in this world. Loving your children; teaching them about God the Father and Jesus, His Son! Teaching them to observe all things that are of God! Enjoy your day and Praise the Lord for your children! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 6/15/14
LET’S LOOK at some biblical fathers and see if our fathers can relate to any one of them. Enoch was a Father; and he was also the Dad and taught his children about God! Noah was a Father, and he was also a Dad and encouraged his sons to help build the Ark! Abraham was a Father, and he played with his children and they loved him as a Dad! King David was a Father, but had trouble with his children - kings are sometimes aloof. Hard to be a Dad when you are aloof, he shed many a tear over his children! Joseph was a legal Father. Jesus was his step-son! And he was a Dad! He allowed Jesus in his shop and taught him to be a carpenter. He taught Him in the ways of God. Jesus knew the scriptures because He was taught my Joseph. God is the epitome of Fatherhood! His relationship with Jesus was so full that Jesus could do nothing else, but live for Him.
WE ARE GOD’S adopted children; we are brothers and sisters of Jesus through adoption! This makes God our Dad? He loves us as His own! He cares for us and hurts, when we hurt. He says; "Come unto me!" Jesus says; I am your friend - No matter how we want to look at it, Jesus is our Savior and friend, and God is our heavenly Father
a. Psalms 68:5 "A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation." God has chosen to love us, as His children!
b. Psalms 103:13 "Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him!" We should love, honor and obey our earthly fathers; God we should fear with love, honor and obedience!
c. Proverbs 10:1 "A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother." Knowing the difference between a wise and foolish son is good!
d. Proverbs 17:21 "He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow. And the father of a fool has no joy!" A disobedient child, is a worldly child - pray for them!
e. Isaiah 64:8 "But now, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, and you our potter; and all of us are the work of your hand." Mankind was created by God, therefore we must submit to Him, so He can finish His work, in us!
f. Matthew 7:21 "Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven." God knows our hearts, therefore we cannot fool Him; because He is no fool!
g. Matthew 10:37 "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Loving, honoring and obeying our parents is the will of the Father. Doing this is God’s will; this shows we love the Father more, when we are in His will.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to all you Fathers who have allow God to change you into the kind of Dad that is needed in this world. Loving your children; teaching them about God the Father and Jesus, His Son! Teaching them to observe all things that are of God! Enjoy your day and Praise the Lord for your children! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 6/15/14
Sunday, June 8, 2014
HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON! 6/8/14
I REALIZE as I get older my mind wanders back to a time before husband, children, in-laws, employment and even retirement. I had a whole different life! For me it was a good life! For me I was happy and full of promise of what was to come. I have pictures on my walls and cards in albums; I have trinkets and do dads to cause my mind to go back to another time full of people that I loved. Today I have a computer that has e-mail! Yes; "I get mail!" When it works it is very good, but when it has problems boy do I get frustrated!
SOME YEARS back a dear friend from my youth sent me an email. He too liked to wander back into time and remember. His email began; "Dear Junior Church friends from long ago." Believe me when he said long ago he meant it. He was in his early 70's! He goes on with the following; "We use to sing songs from the small "Victory" spiral song book. Iona Kay, or sometimes her mother would accompany us on the piano. Bashful Jane Ann would sometimes lead our song service. We were taught at that young tender age by our talented minister and his wife on how to lead songs properly. What a Bible and Christian education we had. We use to have Bible quiz’s and Bible drills where the first one to find the scripture would stand up and read it. What fun to be the first one to find it! I still carry my Bible most every Sunday and follow most all scripture readings. I do not have to be told how to find them. This also reminds me of Junior High; High School; Friday night rallies; Sunday night sings, especially the Compton Sings; the Mid winter and Spring conferences; and summer camps."
I HAVE to agree with Wayne, that our youth was an amazing time! Not quite the same today! To many choices out there for kids, teenagers and young adults. Because our world says so many things are okay, even though they are contrary to God’s Word, trouble becomes second nature to them. If it is not against the law, then it must be okay! If others don’t turn their noses up regarding these abominations, as they are called in God’s Word, then it must be okay, because our culture has changed.
MY HEART aches for our youth that are searching for answers and find them in all the wrong places. Churches are more and more dropping the idea of having Sunday School that teaches our young people about God, His Son and how to live for Him. Instead they offer things that don’t include babies; toddlers, pre-Schoolers, primary age and so on. The seekers are the ones we must teach so that they can teach. "And they were bringing children to Him, that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it He was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God." Mark 10:13-14
GOD CALLS young and old, His children! Jesus continued saying; "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands upon them." Mark 10:15-16 I thank the Lord everyday for the church that took five kids under their wings with love and nurtured them by teaching them about Jesus and His Father, showed us His Word and taught us to walk in His ways. Were we good at it? No! Are we still trying? Yes! Will we ever succeed? Succeed is a measure we may never meet here, but God has promised us that the day is coming!
WHEN THE CHURCH began on that day called Pentecost, God had all of us in mind! Many believe that much is wasted on the youth. Depends upon who’s pew you are sitting in. God is faithful and as long as we remain standing on His promises, there is a place for all of us. Keep the fire lit and fan the flames, Jesus is coming again! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 6/7/14
SOME YEARS back a dear friend from my youth sent me an email. He too liked to wander back into time and remember. His email began; "Dear Junior Church friends from long ago." Believe me when he said long ago he meant it. He was in his early 70's! He goes on with the following; "We use to sing songs from the small "Victory" spiral song book. Iona Kay, or sometimes her mother would accompany us on the piano. Bashful Jane Ann would sometimes lead our song service. We were taught at that young tender age by our talented minister and his wife on how to lead songs properly. What a Bible and Christian education we had. We use to have Bible quiz’s and Bible drills where the first one to find the scripture would stand up and read it. What fun to be the first one to find it! I still carry my Bible most every Sunday and follow most all scripture readings. I do not have to be told how to find them. This also reminds me of Junior High; High School; Friday night rallies; Sunday night sings, especially the Compton Sings; the Mid winter and Spring conferences; and summer camps."
I HAVE to agree with Wayne, that our youth was an amazing time! Not quite the same today! To many choices out there for kids, teenagers and young adults. Because our world says so many things are okay, even though they are contrary to God’s Word, trouble becomes second nature to them. If it is not against the law, then it must be okay! If others don’t turn their noses up regarding these abominations, as they are called in God’s Word, then it must be okay, because our culture has changed.
MY HEART aches for our youth that are searching for answers and find them in all the wrong places. Churches are more and more dropping the idea of having Sunday School that teaches our young people about God, His Son and how to live for Him. Instead they offer things that don’t include babies; toddlers, pre-Schoolers, primary age and so on. The seekers are the ones we must teach so that they can teach. "And they were bringing children to Him, that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it He was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God." Mark 10:13-14
GOD CALLS young and old, His children! Jesus continued saying; "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands upon them." Mark 10:15-16 I thank the Lord everyday for the church that took five kids under their wings with love and nurtured them by teaching them about Jesus and His Father, showed us His Word and taught us to walk in His ways. Were we good at it? No! Are we still trying? Yes! Will we ever succeed? Succeed is a measure we may never meet here, but God has promised us that the day is coming!
WHEN THE CHURCH began on that day called Pentecost, God had all of us in mind! Many believe that much is wasted on the youth. Depends upon who’s pew you are sitting in. God is faithful and as long as we remain standing on His promises, there is a place for all of us. Keep the fire lit and fan the flames, Jesus is coming again! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 6/7/14
Saturday, May 31, 2014
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE! 6/1/14
ONCE IN a while you meet a preacher evangelist, who knows there is only black and white. Gray really doesn’t exist because God gave us a choice. You think you are in the middle, but there is only one choice to be made. Willie White was such an evangelist. He prepared a book of sermon outlines in the early 60's. I have a copy and I thoroughly enjoy how Willie thought! Willie called one of these outlines "A Question which God cannot answer!" Caught my eye, does it catch yours?
I BELIEVE that God can do whatever God wants to do! However, I also believe that God gave us choices because He understood choice! God makes choices all the time, even from the very beginning. Some believe that God makes it impossible for Himself to do some things. I am not disagreeing with Willie, but I look at this in a different way. "God, in His own will and knowledge, had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed Him, by letting sinful men nail Him to the cross!" Acts 2:3 God chose to make this decision before He created man! Our great God began with a plan!
"FOR YOU know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life you received from your ancestors. It was not something that loses it value, such as silver or gold’ you were set free by the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or spot." 1 Peter 1:18-19 God made the choice and it cost Him His Son so that we would have a chance to be saved! God’s plan came with a great price and Jesus paid it for us!
WILLIE tells a story that happened many years ago. Workmen were constructing a rocky parapet along one of the trails leading to the top of Niagara Falls. Proper safeguards had not been installed, and one of the tourists, leaning far out to gaze over the cliff, lost his balance and plunged into the raging pool at the base of one of the falls. The tourists watched with horror, as they saw their companion’s body buffeted to and fro. Then as they watched, he seized a jutting pinnacle of rock and held on for dear life. The watchers began to ask, "Can we save him? Can we get a board or a boat to him?" But a boat could never live in that raging sea. They realized that if they could save him it would have to be from above. They attempted to lower a rope, but it was tossed by the breeze, and the victim dared not loose his grip on the rock in an effort to seize the swaying rope.
THE WOULD BE rescuers cried, "If we ever save him, someone is going to have to go." So they hastily constructed a rude rope ladder; then turning to the crowd, asked; "Who will go?" It was a young sailor who stepped out of the crowd saying, "I will go." And here he came, hand over hand, down the rope ladder and reached out his hand to the one clinging for his life, to the rock. What do you suppose the one in that perilous situation did? Do you suppose he said; "Well, this is very nice of you, but I am still alive; I think I can hold on a few minutes longer!" You know he didn’t do that! He gladly seized the hand and permitted himself to be brought to safety. When they reached the land, the rescued one, threw his arms about his rescuer’s shoulders, crying; "Oh Thank God, you came to save me!"
THERE IS a more beautiful story than that: "There was a time that God looked down and saw man buffeted by a raging sea, trying to hold on alone. And God said; "Can I save Him? Not from below, if I ever save him, it must be done from above." So the ladder was constructed, and the Father turned to the hosts of heaven, saying; "Who will go!" It was the Son who stepped out and said, "I will go, Father!" And here He came into the darkness stretching out His arms to all the world saying; "Come unto me!" Some say God cannot save a man against His will, but I say God won’t save a man against his will. He chose to let us choose! Don’t neglect His invitation, answer the call!
By Jane Ann Crenshaw 5/30/14 (Ref 52 Sermon Outlines/W.White)
I BELIEVE that God can do whatever God wants to do! However, I also believe that God gave us choices because He understood choice! God makes choices all the time, even from the very beginning. Some believe that God makes it impossible for Himself to do some things. I am not disagreeing with Willie, but I look at this in a different way. "God, in His own will and knowledge, had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed Him, by letting sinful men nail Him to the cross!" Acts 2:3 God chose to make this decision before He created man! Our great God began with a plan!
"FOR YOU know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life you received from your ancestors. It was not something that loses it value, such as silver or gold’ you were set free by the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or spot." 1 Peter 1:18-19 God made the choice and it cost Him His Son so that we would have a chance to be saved! God’s plan came with a great price and Jesus paid it for us!
WILLIE tells a story that happened many years ago. Workmen were constructing a rocky parapet along one of the trails leading to the top of Niagara Falls. Proper safeguards had not been installed, and one of the tourists, leaning far out to gaze over the cliff, lost his balance and plunged into the raging pool at the base of one of the falls. The tourists watched with horror, as they saw their companion’s body buffeted to and fro. Then as they watched, he seized a jutting pinnacle of rock and held on for dear life. The watchers began to ask, "Can we save him? Can we get a board or a boat to him?" But a boat could never live in that raging sea. They realized that if they could save him it would have to be from above. They attempted to lower a rope, but it was tossed by the breeze, and the victim dared not loose his grip on the rock in an effort to seize the swaying rope.
THE WOULD BE rescuers cried, "If we ever save him, someone is going to have to go." So they hastily constructed a rude rope ladder; then turning to the crowd, asked; "Who will go?" It was a young sailor who stepped out of the crowd saying, "I will go." And here he came, hand over hand, down the rope ladder and reached out his hand to the one clinging for his life, to the rock. What do you suppose the one in that perilous situation did? Do you suppose he said; "Well, this is very nice of you, but I am still alive; I think I can hold on a few minutes longer!" You know he didn’t do that! He gladly seized the hand and permitted himself to be brought to safety. When they reached the land, the rescued one, threw his arms about his rescuer’s shoulders, crying; "Oh Thank God, you came to save me!"
THERE IS a more beautiful story than that: "There was a time that God looked down and saw man buffeted by a raging sea, trying to hold on alone. And God said; "Can I save Him? Not from below, if I ever save him, it must be done from above." So the ladder was constructed, and the Father turned to the hosts of heaven, saying; "Who will go!" It was the Son who stepped out and said, "I will go, Father!" And here He came into the darkness stretching out His arms to all the world saying; "Come unto me!" Some say God cannot save a man against His will, but I say God won’t save a man against his will. He chose to let us choose! Don’t neglect His invitation, answer the call!
By Jane Ann Crenshaw 5/30/14 (Ref 52 Sermon Outlines/W.White)
Saturday, May 24, 2014
LET'S HAVE A YARD SALE!" 5/25/14
YESTERDAY we had a yard sale! Some call it a garage sale. I remember when Jim and I were first married, 52 years ago; people didn’t have yard sales, but would go to the swap meet instead. There were junk stores and of course Goodwill; but no one had a yard sale. Today, I put something into the yard sale that I originally purchased at the swap meet in Southern California, in a town called Gardena. They used the Gardena Drive-in-movie lot every Saturday, and it was more fun than a basket full of kittens!
SPRING CLEANING always seems to end with a trip to Goodwill or a yard sale. Well this year, we took a lot of clothing to Treasures which is an outlet for Hospice. A lot of stuff is what is in the yard sale, and what is left, will go to Goodwill. All in all this is a good thing! Having a yard sale, allows for others to take away the goods. What is left, oh well; we will still make a trip to Goodwill! At least we are not piling up these treasures and becoming hoarders; or so I have heard!
IN THE SEVENTY"S I was employed by Goodwill. I started out sorting clothes off of a humongous ‘sorting’ table. Later I ended up as the Secretary to the Executive Director. I loved my job! I loved helping to plan ‘fashion shows’ and working with the clients. I was able to dress my family at economical prices and knew they were well groomed. It can be done, you know! I have always loved ‘hand-me-downs’; and somebody’s cast offs, could make my day!
"THEN HE SAID; ‘The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, "What shall I do?" I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods’". Luke 12:16-18 In this passage Jesus is telling the story of the rich fool. A parable is a story with a meaning. The rich fool after building larger store houses and filled them up was satisfied that his future was now secure. Sort of like a 401K! He felt that life was good so he could set back and take life easy, you know; eat, drink and be merry!
"BUT GOD said to him; ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Luke 12:20-21 The rich man was not condemned for having a lot of success in his business. On the contrary, he became a rich fool because he trusted in his own strength and kept everything for himself.
WHEN Jennifer was about 14 or 15, we gave her the cutest stereo cabinet for Christmas. It played 45's and 78's. Of course today people buy record players for those and they look antique. I keep thinking we need to buy one of those for all of our ‘old’ records, that are mostly scratched, but we keep them anyway! She decided to put her stereo in the yard sale! I can hardly stand it. It is so cute; walnut with red velvet down the front. The lid opens from the top and I can still see her sitting on the floor playing her music, listening to the radio. I know I have this memory, but I keeping thinking; why buy something new that looks old when you already have what is old and still works like new!
WHILE JESUS was definitely using this story to warn us about the dangers of self-centeredness and materialism, He had a much deeper concern; to help everyone, both in His day and our own; to discover that the real secret to life is in becoming "rich toward God." Having a yard sale, is just another way of determining that God is permanent, but income and material blessings are always temporary. We could just give it all away, but this way; Jennifer can add some to her savings, we don’t have to take it anywhere and some one else has found a treasure. It all works out and I can still say; "thank you Lord "for all that you have given us yesterday and today. For tomorrow? Well, God always has a plan.....By Jane Ann Crenshaw 5/23/14
SPRING CLEANING always seems to end with a trip to Goodwill or a yard sale. Well this year, we took a lot of clothing to Treasures which is an outlet for Hospice. A lot of stuff is what is in the yard sale, and what is left, will go to Goodwill. All in all this is a good thing! Having a yard sale, allows for others to take away the goods. What is left, oh well; we will still make a trip to Goodwill! At least we are not piling up these treasures and becoming hoarders; or so I have heard!
IN THE SEVENTY"S I was employed by Goodwill. I started out sorting clothes off of a humongous ‘sorting’ table. Later I ended up as the Secretary to the Executive Director. I loved my job! I loved helping to plan ‘fashion shows’ and working with the clients. I was able to dress my family at economical prices and knew they were well groomed. It can be done, you know! I have always loved ‘hand-me-downs’; and somebody’s cast offs, could make my day!
"THEN HE SAID; ‘The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, "What shall I do?" I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods’". Luke 12:16-18 In this passage Jesus is telling the story of the rich fool. A parable is a story with a meaning. The rich fool after building larger store houses and filled them up was satisfied that his future was now secure. Sort of like a 401K! He felt that life was good so he could set back and take life easy, you know; eat, drink and be merry!
"BUT GOD said to him; ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Luke 12:20-21 The rich man was not condemned for having a lot of success in his business. On the contrary, he became a rich fool because he trusted in his own strength and kept everything for himself.
WHEN Jennifer was about 14 or 15, we gave her the cutest stereo cabinet for Christmas. It played 45's and 78's. Of course today people buy record players for those and they look antique. I keep thinking we need to buy one of those for all of our ‘old’ records, that are mostly scratched, but we keep them anyway! She decided to put her stereo in the yard sale! I can hardly stand it. It is so cute; walnut with red velvet down the front. The lid opens from the top and I can still see her sitting on the floor playing her music, listening to the radio. I know I have this memory, but I keeping thinking; why buy something new that looks old when you already have what is old and still works like new!
WHILE JESUS was definitely using this story to warn us about the dangers of self-centeredness and materialism, He had a much deeper concern; to help everyone, both in His day and our own; to discover that the real secret to life is in becoming "rich toward God." Having a yard sale, is just another way of determining that God is permanent, but income and material blessings are always temporary. We could just give it all away, but this way; Jennifer can add some to her savings, we don’t have to take it anywhere and some one else has found a treasure. It all works out and I can still say; "thank you Lord "for all that you have given us yesterday and today. For tomorrow? Well, God always has a plan.....By Jane Ann Crenshaw 5/23/14
Saturday, May 17, 2014
THE GOOD STUFF! 5/18/14
ALL OF US want the good stuff! Starting each day with the good stuff doesn’t always guarantee we will have good stuff all day, but it sure gives us a good start, to keep keeping on throughout the day. They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That is because it is full of good stuff to energize us, which perks us up and motivates us. But the question is; "What is the good stuff?
I REMEMBER as a child my Mom, or someone, made pancakes for breakfast on Saturdays! That was always considered the ‘good stuff!’ During the week, we were lucky if we had time to eat cereal, that is when we had cereal. Mostly oatmeal, but then there was toast! It was enough to get us started but not necessarily enough to keep us going.
I RECENTLY read something that should tickle your ears when getting up each morning. God also fixes us ’good stuff’’. He has so much planned for our days, but do we miss it because we don’t get up early and spend time with Him? Do we anticipate His goodness and kindness to us each day? Do we seek Him early like David did? "Cause me to hear your loving-kindness in the morning, for in you do I trust. Cause me to know your way where I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto you." Psalm 143:8
OFTEN we have days that don’t start off right, don’t we! But if we don’t try to spend time with God by reading His Word and talking with Him in prayer at the start of our day, then how will we ever be conscious of Him when the afternoon hits or when evening rolls around? Do you know just how much ‘good stuff’ He offers us? We are given blessings, promises, love, guidance, strength, and protection, just to name a few. Don’t you think, we need all of God’s ‘good stuff’ to make it through the whole day?
WE ALL HAVE good intentions! "My voice you shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto you , and will look up!" Psalm 5:3 Yes; we all have laid out a resolution to begin each day with the Lord. We do well for a while and then, we start sleeping in just a little bit and then a little bit more. Our desire to start our day with Jesus becomes fewer and fewer. I know; I’ve been there! I try to be realistic and go about my morning to prepare for the time I spend with the Lord. That way, I don’t slack off as much!
WHEN I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child, but when I became a woman, I gave up childish things! Well, not quite all of them! I still plan and still make excuses! I still want, but I still put off! I still imagine the kind of woman God has created me to be and yet, I have not made it to the crest of the hill. He sat by the well and waited for the woman to come to get her water! And, HE still waits for me!
"IT IS THE Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassion’s fail not. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22 Do we not take our Lord serious enough? Are we not faithful, because we think His promise to rescue us, even from our deliberate procrastination, will get us by? I hope not! God is real! He sent His Son to cover our sins. Why can’t we give Him our days? Why can’t we give Him our nights? Why can’t we realize that when the mornings come; He is waiting for us to seek His face, to look for Him. He is faithful; we should be faithful too!
MORNINGS for some, is not full of sunshine and rainbows. For me, it is hard to move about until I have had my two cups of coffee. However, Jim is a morning person and because of Him I get up, even when I don’t really want to. That is how we should be as we look forward to the morning with our Savior. Lately the moon, on it’s way down, stops to peek into my bedroom. I see the moon and the moon is telling me to get up; because Jesus is waiting and anxious to greet me; after all, it is morning! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 5/12/14
I REMEMBER as a child my Mom, or someone, made pancakes for breakfast on Saturdays! That was always considered the ‘good stuff!’ During the week, we were lucky if we had time to eat cereal, that is when we had cereal. Mostly oatmeal, but then there was toast! It was enough to get us started but not necessarily enough to keep us going.
I RECENTLY read something that should tickle your ears when getting up each morning. God also fixes us ’good stuff’’. He has so much planned for our days, but do we miss it because we don’t get up early and spend time with Him? Do we anticipate His goodness and kindness to us each day? Do we seek Him early like David did? "Cause me to hear your loving-kindness in the morning, for in you do I trust. Cause me to know your way where I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto you." Psalm 143:8
OFTEN we have days that don’t start off right, don’t we! But if we don’t try to spend time with God by reading His Word and talking with Him in prayer at the start of our day, then how will we ever be conscious of Him when the afternoon hits or when evening rolls around? Do you know just how much ‘good stuff’ He offers us? We are given blessings, promises, love, guidance, strength, and protection, just to name a few. Don’t you think, we need all of God’s ‘good stuff’ to make it through the whole day?
WE ALL HAVE good intentions! "My voice you shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto you , and will look up!" Psalm 5:3 Yes; we all have laid out a resolution to begin each day with the Lord. We do well for a while and then, we start sleeping in just a little bit and then a little bit more. Our desire to start our day with Jesus becomes fewer and fewer. I know; I’ve been there! I try to be realistic and go about my morning to prepare for the time I spend with the Lord. That way, I don’t slack off as much!
WHEN I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child, but when I became a woman, I gave up childish things! Well, not quite all of them! I still plan and still make excuses! I still want, but I still put off! I still imagine the kind of woman God has created me to be and yet, I have not made it to the crest of the hill. He sat by the well and waited for the woman to come to get her water! And, HE still waits for me!
"IT IS THE Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassion’s fail not. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22 Do we not take our Lord serious enough? Are we not faithful, because we think His promise to rescue us, even from our deliberate procrastination, will get us by? I hope not! God is real! He sent His Son to cover our sins. Why can’t we give Him our days? Why can’t we give Him our nights? Why can’t we realize that when the mornings come; He is waiting for us to seek His face, to look for Him. He is faithful; we should be faithful too!
MORNINGS for some, is not full of sunshine and rainbows. For me, it is hard to move about until I have had my two cups of coffee. However, Jim is a morning person and because of Him I get up, even when I don’t really want to. That is how we should be as we look forward to the morning with our Savior. Lately the moon, on it’s way down, stops to peek into my bedroom. I see the moon and the moon is telling me to get up; because Jesus is waiting and anxious to greet me; after all, it is morning! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 5/12/14
Saturday, May 3, 2014
HILL OF BEANS! 5/4/14
AMAZING how many things we say and wonder; why do we say that or what does that mean!
I ran across "not worth a hill of beans and decided this was worth blogging about. How many times have we looked at something in a yard sale, or in a major store and said, out loud, "that’s not worth a hill of beans!" I know I have! And, I’ve wondered why I say that! I didn’t know what it meant! Saying things that we don’t know what it means is not a good thing. We should know what we are saying and we should know especially, what we are saying, means.
I DON"T SUPPOSE anyone today has ever seen a hill of beans. In the era when most family households grew their own food, everyone had plenty of them; a hill of beans, that is.
A cluster of seeds covered with a mound of earth constituted a hill. Long rows in the garden included so many hills that no one bothered to count them. For practical purposes this meant that a single hill of beans was so nearly worthless, that its value couldn’t be estimated.
I HAVE a red book called; "Why You Say It, by Webb Garrison!" It has over 600 everyday words and phrases, along with stories. I love it! I don’t look at it often,but when I do, I have to scan a lot of pages before putting it down again.
I HAVE heard this phrase said on the TV. I have heard others talking about possible family members. I suppose a father would talk to his daughter about the young man who is calling on her. He would say; "He isn’t worth a hill of beans; you can do better!" Obviously the father’s concern would be that the young man would never be a good provider for his daughter. If they married, he would end up taking care of both of them!
GOD’S WORD pretty much says Israel was not worth a hill of beans! He didn’t exactly use those words but in my book they mean the same thing. "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one that calls upon your name, that stirs himself to take hold of you; for you have hid your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our sins. Isaiah 64:6-7 What does that sound like to you?
"YET O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hands. Be not exceedingly angry, O Lord, and remember not our sins for ever. Behold, consider, we are all your people!" Isaiah 64:8-9 Right away we want to argue with God, when we think of our selves as filthy rags. We want to say; "but we have Jesus’ righteousness, remember?" But do we? I know that the Holy Spirit lives within me and when I am doing what is right; I am walking in His righteousness.
BUT IF YOU want to ask me if I understand all about having the righteousness of Jesus, I would have to admit that I do not! Many like to explain that and even use the scriptures to bring proof upon proof. But I still do not fully understand how I can have the righteousness of Jesus when I, myself, am not always living righteously. Repentance, AMEN! Forgiveness, AMEN! Can I strive to become righteous; absolutely!
WITH THE Holy Spirit I am encouraged to live righteously! I am encouraged to become all that God has created me to be. With the Holy Spirit, I am fully aware of Jesus in my life and He has promised me that when I remain faithful to Him, He will be faithful to me! "Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:19-21 Am I worth a hill of beans? When Jesus died on the cross, He deemed me worthy and saved my soul! Thank you Lord! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 5/2/14
I ran across "not worth a hill of beans and decided this was worth blogging about. How many times have we looked at something in a yard sale, or in a major store and said, out loud, "that’s not worth a hill of beans!" I know I have! And, I’ve wondered why I say that! I didn’t know what it meant! Saying things that we don’t know what it means is not a good thing. We should know what we are saying and we should know especially, what we are saying, means.
I DON"T SUPPOSE anyone today has ever seen a hill of beans. In the era when most family households grew their own food, everyone had plenty of them; a hill of beans, that is.
A cluster of seeds covered with a mound of earth constituted a hill. Long rows in the garden included so many hills that no one bothered to count them. For practical purposes this meant that a single hill of beans was so nearly worthless, that its value couldn’t be estimated.
I HAVE a red book called; "Why You Say It, by Webb Garrison!" It has over 600 everyday words and phrases, along with stories. I love it! I don’t look at it often,but when I do, I have to scan a lot of pages before putting it down again.
I HAVE heard this phrase said on the TV. I have heard others talking about possible family members. I suppose a father would talk to his daughter about the young man who is calling on her. He would say; "He isn’t worth a hill of beans; you can do better!" Obviously the father’s concern would be that the young man would never be a good provider for his daughter. If they married, he would end up taking care of both of them!
GOD’S WORD pretty much says Israel was not worth a hill of beans! He didn’t exactly use those words but in my book they mean the same thing. "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one that calls upon your name, that stirs himself to take hold of you; for you have hid your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our sins. Isaiah 64:6-7 What does that sound like to you?
"YET O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hands. Be not exceedingly angry, O Lord, and remember not our sins for ever. Behold, consider, we are all your people!" Isaiah 64:8-9 Right away we want to argue with God, when we think of our selves as filthy rags. We want to say; "but we have Jesus’ righteousness, remember?" But do we? I know that the Holy Spirit lives within me and when I am doing what is right; I am walking in His righteousness.
BUT IF YOU want to ask me if I understand all about having the righteousness of Jesus, I would have to admit that I do not! Many like to explain that and even use the scriptures to bring proof upon proof. But I still do not fully understand how I can have the righteousness of Jesus when I, myself, am not always living righteously. Repentance, AMEN! Forgiveness, AMEN! Can I strive to become righteous; absolutely!
WITH THE Holy Spirit I am encouraged to live righteously! I am encouraged to become all that God has created me to be. With the Holy Spirit, I am fully aware of Jesus in my life and He has promised me that when I remain faithful to Him, He will be faithful to me! "Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:19-21 Am I worth a hill of beans? When Jesus died on the cross, He deemed me worthy and saved my soul! Thank you Lord! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 5/2/14
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